[1985 4runner]

I bought an old Marlin 781 tube fed 22 from the pawn shop last year. My intention was a cheap truck gun but I became interesting in refinishing it once I saw how good it shot. It was literally chewed up on the end of the stock & the trigger group was rusted, but still functioned. The barrel showed some surface rust but no pitting. Total cost: $99

Before:

I ordered a replacement stock from Numrich's with a medallion cutout for around $50

 

[1985 4runner]

The Marshield finish on the new stock left a lot to be desired so I strtipped it down to the bare wood with Tal-Strip chemical paint remover:

I used Tal-Strip:

Sprayed the Tal-Strip on & let it do the work. 20-25 minutes...

This is strong stuff. Please use glove & eye protection. It was eating right through my latex gloves.

 

[1985 4runner]

You can see the the old finish disolve away:

Now I'm seeing some results:

After cleaning with paint thinner to remove the Tal-Strip:

I let the stock dry & then lightly sanded with 400 grit paper & 0000 steel wool.

Luckily, I got the mix right I think. Light coat of Armor All & then rubbed in the Tru Oil. Seemed to work very well, not tacky.

Only one coat so far but it seems to be dry already. Tomorrow I'll add another few coats as time allows.

Decided to hang it in the "man room" away from the humidity outside to dry.

 

[1985 4runner]

5 coats later:

Probably looking at a dozen coats to finish.

Getting close to finishing, test fitting the "medallion" I'll be using :

Going to top it off with a BSA Sweet 22:

 

[SubGunFan]

Waiting on the finished product....................

EDITED to add: OOOOPS, I am too slow. Stock looks friggin GREAT ! ! !


.

 

[1985 4runner]

Sanded down the barrel for rebluing.

Used Oxpho Blue, took about three hours using multiple coats & a heat gun & 0000 steel wool.

Gun has been reassembled, sling attached & scope mounted. All that is left to do is mount the Liberty Silver Dollar I am using insted of the Half-Dollar.

 

[1985 4runner]

 

[1985 4runner]

The significance of the 2007 Silver Dollar is that is the year my son Wade was born.

This will be his rifle one day & I wanted it to be special.

 

[SubGunFan]

Well...... the gun is worth at least a DOLLAR......

MAN, you turned an abused gun into a BEAUTY...

GREAT workmanship ! ! ! That project defines TLC (Tender Loving Care).

.

 

[3spop]

Very nice. May I say congratulations to you on that job. I can see alot of love was put into it. That inspires me to do something similar for my boys.

 

[msredneck]

what a great job...I luv seeing Old guns restored and loved on again...

It makes me all tingly up and down the leg...just like Chris Matthews gets when He see Obama...... :bsflag:

 

[Xd357]

Really cool. I know he's going to love it.

 

[1985 4runner]

Thanks all, I wanted to share this with some fellow enthusiasts that could appreciate it.

Now I'll start looking for another rifle project to do for our next son due in October.

 

[Joe S.]

VERY cool! Kudos! How ya like the scope?

 

[captain-03]

Great work you did there!! You should be proud!!

 

[lee]

very nice job wish i had the patince to do that.

 

[hubcap]

thats a beauty,i beleave your son will love it

 

[shoeshooter]

Beautiful. So it's just multiple coats of Tru Oil? Did you steelwool or anything between coats?

 

[nhstk02]

I inherited one from my grandfather that passed away and did about the same thing except for the blueing part. Heres a pic

 

[1985 4runner]

Beautiful. So it's just multiple coats of Tru Oil? Did you steelwool or anything between coats?

The refinishing process is a light coat of Automotive Armor All over the entire stock then a dab of Tru oil rubbed in on top. In between coats I wiped it down very lightly with 0000 steel wool & then a tack cloth. I then repeated the Armor All & Tru oil stain for about 8 coats total. The Armor All bonds chemically with the Tru oil & keeps it from getting all sticky/tacky.